You are here

Visitor Use Survey Corps

The Army Corps of Engineers Visitor Use Survey Program (ACE VUS) is an SCA partnership that provides members a valuable and enjoyable opportunity to help the Army Corps of Engineers monitor the use of its beautiful recreational sites across the country. Participants in this program will work in teams of ﬁve members, supervised by one project leader, stationed in a location central to the sites the team is tasked with monitoring.

Members, in pairs, collect recreation use information from visitors, primarily through roadside interviews.The interview sites include lakes and other recreation areas.Corps members collect, organize, and download interview data; use a schedule of scenically selected sample sites for speciﬁc dates; collaborate with SCA leader and Army Corps staff; and maintain proper care of supplies and equipment. The teams also design and carry out conservation projects on one or more of the sites they are monitoring. This gives the members an opportunity to interact with Rangers, Project Managers, and other staff, and leave a lasting impact on the sites they are visiting.

From 2011-2013, members of the Army Corps Visitor Use Survey program have engaged citizens from seven major metropolitan areas each year through their survey work, and completed over 100 community service projects. Members also gain valuable experience in a wide variety of conservation activities, and develop professional connections with a network of government agencies and nonproﬁt organizations throughout the region.

Members receive monthly living stipends, reimbursement for travel expenses, and are eligible for an AmeriCorps Education reward. Teams live together in SCA-provided housing managed by their team leader. Teams are provided with a budget for food and other necessary living expenses. Personal vehicles are not required.

Trainings Offered:

CPR Certiﬁcation

Wilderness First Aid Certiﬁcation

Leave No Trace (LNT) Outdoor Ethics

Eligibility Requirements:

Applicants must be at least 21 years of age, have a valid driver’s license, and pass a background check.

Related Posts & Program Information

It’s been an exciting couple weeks here in Texas! Surveys continue to keep us busy most days of the week. We’ve had some interesting visitors this hitch including a great group of soldiers visiting the lake for a “fun day” and more baby deer than we can count.

Conservation begins HERE! I was thinking about the blue shirts that are distinguishable all over the USA to anyone that knows about The SCA. “Conservation Begins Here”. Yup. Right here. Well, all over the states this summer, really. All the wonderful crews that are out there doing their part. Keep it going! Here I am a little more than halfway through our program here in Kansas.

Well the summer is halfway done it seems! These past few weeks have ﬂown by. The Texas team got to enjoy a trip to Kansas to help build campsites at a local ACE site with the Oklahoma and Kansas teams. It was great seeing everyone again and we had a blast clearing out the sites.

On the ﬁrst day of my hitchlead, I had cooked barbeque hot dogs with my mom’s homemade barbeque sauce and it was eaten up near the end of the evening. On the next meal, I made pasta with Sophie’s homemade tomato sauce. Sophie’s pasta kicks butt!

Yes, keep me informed

Send me news and updates on protecting the great outdoors through conservation and service.

Parents Corner

Your child is about to embark on a life-changing experience, where they will have the opportunity to meet new friends, explore potential careers, gain leadership skills, and accomplish hands-on conservation work that will have a lasting impact on the planet.